Members Statements
in the Ontario Legislature re: ODA Legislation

May 15, 2000

Member's statement:

Ms Marilyn Churley (Broadview-Greenwood): Today marks the beginning
of Community Living Week, and I would like to challenge the government
to take this as an opportunity to put forward a new plan and a new vision
to help people living with developmental disabilities and their families.
I challenge the government to:

Adequately compensate workers within the de-velopmental disabilities
sector. Low salaries are driving away competent staff and that directly
affects people with those disabilities. A survey done by KPMG found
that salaries in not-for-profit agencies are 20% to 25% lower than
those for people doing similar work in government facilities or
other human services sectors.

Recognize that there are a growing number of older parents who
are no longer able to support their sons and daughters at home.
Without immediate funding and program supports, many individuals
will find themselves in crisis, as many are now.

Come forward with a new plan for community-based service, a new
vision that will help people living with developmental disabilities
better integrate into our communities. This new vision should
include a mean-ingful Ontarians with Disabilities Act that guarantees
existing community barriers will be removed and future barriers
will be prevented.

Without a meaningful ODA in place, people living with disabilities in
Ontario have no guarantee that they can access public buildings, services
and programs. The government promised this five years ago. I call upon
them again today to bring in this act.